Mysuru: Kagodu Thimmappa appreciated the present Congress-led government and said the issuance of title deeds to tribals was evidence that the government was providing good governance.

Speaker who has been critical of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government till recently, did a U-turn on Monday after distributing title deeds to 280 tribal families from Nagarhole forests who have been rehabilitated at Nagapura, in the taluk.

Speaking to media persons, he said, it took almost 14 years to complete the process he had initiated in the year 1999, when he was the Social Welfare Minister.

Reacting to the comments of the Opposition parties that the government was in a slumber, he said, it was for people to decide whether or not the government has been performing. “Is the act of the government, transforming 280 tribal families into farmers, a mean achievement?” he questioned.

Pointing out that late D Devaraja Urs, who was a native of Hunsur taluk, had alloted lands to the landless in a similar way, when he was the chief minister, Thimmappa said, it was a pity that most of the lands were not owned by the beneficiaries now. “It is not easy to bring the tribal people into the mainstream, they can be exploited easily. So, the government is vested with the powers to withdraw the allotment of lands, if somebody buys them,” he said.

Recalling his visit to the rehabilitation camp in 1999, he said, he had taken steps to provide basic amenities in the settlements and had distributed cattle, sheep and goats for self-sustenance. 

“But, I wished to grant lands to make the tribals financially independent and started the process. Now, I am happy,” he said.